Biblical Study on Cutting

Verse: Mark 5:5"And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones." -NKJV

Background: In chapter 5, a demon possessed man is healed. This man lived among the tombs. No one could subdue him; he could break out of even chains, and "neither could anyone tame him" (Mark 5:4). He was out of his mind because of the demons (after Jesus healed him, the Bible says he was "in his right mind" (Mark 5:16), which implies that he had been out of his mind during the possession). This was the story in which Jesus allows the spirits to exit the man and enter a bunch of pigs, and the spirits drive the pigs into a body of water and they all drown.

2: Cutting is seen as a way to purge pain -Most people who cut or likewise partake in self mutilation usually cite their reason as an attempt to "get rid of the thing on the inside".

-Demons and similar spirits are on the inside, causing misery
--Demons/spirits would be encouraging the idea that if the victim bleeds enough, the pain would escape with the blood, which is a lie.

~~~The urge to destroy what's inside may be subconscious awareness of demonic presence?~~~

3: Insanity or twisted thinking/perceptions -Often caused by pain or lies, both favorites of demonic forces.

-A part of depression is that ideas, thoughts, and perceptions are completely off and unrealistic (for example, the common belief of having no worth). Being aware of that warped perception is very likely to only worsen the already injured mentality. The belief that something abstract could escape physically through an open wound is impossible and likely born of a desperation to escape torment.
--Warped perceptions are essentially lies repeated often enough to be believed. Demons take great pleasure in such business.
-It is a proven medical fact that sufficient amounts of physical or mental pain can literally drive a patient clinically insane.

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BREAK DOWN
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"And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones."

night and day, he was in the mountaints and in the tombs
-He was secluded -- why?
+Was separated from community, either by himself or by the community
++If by self, because of shame (ashamed of his condition), guilt (felt guilty for his actions), fear (afraid of what he might do next/of how others treated him)

crying out
-Vocal ejaculations of discomfort -- why?
+pain: emotional or from self inflicted physical abuse
+fear: of himself?
+frustration: with himself, with his actions
+hate: hatred of self, condition, actions, others
++All of the above very likely caused directly or indirectly by demonic tampering

cutting himself with stones
-Stones being the sharpest object available
-(see "2:")

Mark 5:6-10:"When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him."
-The demon was presumably in control, and even it worshiped Jesus"And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.""
-The demon was afraid of Jesus (
"For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" Then He asked him. "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion, for we are many.""
-There are lots of these type demons
-The demon had to answer Jesus
-The definition of legion is "a great multitude"; a Roman legion of soldiers consisted of 3,000 to 6,000 men.
--3,000 to 6,000 of demons that are behind depression/cutting/etc?

Mark 5:11-14: (Jesus allows the demons to enter the pigs and the pigs drown)

Mark 5:15:Then they [they being the townspeople] came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid."
-Had the legion; meaning that he had a multitude of such demons within him?
-In his right mind; his sanity had been restored: his clear thinking had been restored with the purging of the demons
-And they were afraid; some people can't accept healings or similarly drastic changes, which can contribute to complications in the healing

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Q&A
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Research Question: Is there a demon/unclean spirit behind cutting/self mutilation and to an extent, depression?

Answer: Quite possibly. In the case cited in the Bible, yes, there was. Comparing this case to contemporary cases, it is very likely that the reason a depressed person is incapable of clear thought and accurate perceptions regarding both the world and immediate surroundings.

Question posed by sidenote in my Bible: What do demons want to do to people?

Answer given by Bible: "And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones."

Inference: The desire/urge to cut oneself is of demonic influence and/or nature. It is definitely not God-given.

emphasis:

**Because someone may be cutting does not necessarily mean that they are demon possessed and an exorcism is required**

Of demonic influence and/or nature. Nature being defined as, being characteristic of. Influence being defined as, the power to produce effects or being in a position to indirectly sway or affect. Indirectly: not direct